Welsh Springer Spaniels, or Welshies as they are often known, are the redhead of the Spaniel world. They are a little known breed that looks very similar to the English Springer Spaniel, and are often mistaken for the latter. There is also another school of thought that claims that the Welsh Springer is bred from the Brittany Springer Spaniel which explains why these two breeds are often mistaken for each other.

Despite all this, Welshies are workers with great stamina and strength and tend to be less hyperactive than the English Springer Spaniel, in fact they are typically mild mannered.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a medium sized compact dog, big enough to be a proper dog and not a toy dog, with the most beautiful red coat. They are smaller than the working line of the English Springer Spaniel but they are harder to find as this breed has only been around for just over 100 years.With a having a slighter build than other Springer breeds, and angled instead of rounded ears, this version of the breed was finally recognized in 1902 as a separate and distinct breed from the English Springer.Since then this line has been bred away from its English cousins.

They are great sniffers, being able to sniff out the smallest scraps of food from 50 paces, and have one hell of a determined streak when trying to get hold of it, a bit like a beagle in that respect.

Less crazy than the English Springer Spaniel, Welsh Springers are known for their gentle personality and utter devotion to their families, making Welsh Springer Spaniels excellent family pets.They are likely to consider themselves to be another one of your children.

They are not as outgoing as the English Springer Spaniel and can be somewhat reserved with strangers, however they don’t show signs of timidity, shyness or aggression. This reserved nature will not be true when he or she greets you at the door on returning home. They can be excessive in their boundless energy to show you just how much they love and missed you.

As their desire is to be with you all the time, Welsh Springer Spaniels are not good at living in kennels, they will bark until you bring them inside, so if you are planning on getting one make sure you plan on them being very much part of the family, as they will make sure that is where they fit.

Raising to Springer puppy is a delight, however he does need to be disciplined, as they will tap into their hunting instincts early and like to chase cats and birds very quickly.You must make sure they understand the rules early on, otherwise it could develop into a problem as they grow up in to adulthood.By all means encourage their hunting instinct, but in a controlled manner.Patience is not something a Welsh Springer Spaniel possesses, so be warned of this when trying to train him or her.

They are a breed with fairly high maintenance coat, that needs regular grooming to keep them in good health.Failure to take care of their coats can result in matted fur, especially around the ears and the feathers on the legs.But regular grooming easily becomes part of your daily routine with your Springer, and it will reinforce the bond between you and your dog.

Welsh Springer Spaniels appear to the casual observer to be just another variation of the English Springer. Yes, they differ in color, but their genetic history diverged a couple of centuries ago (at least), and there are several other subtle differences which we look at here.

Physical Differences

The Welsh Springer is a slightly smaller dog than his English Springer cousin.Maybe one inch lower in height, his body is more elongated than that of the English Springer (which is seen as ‘ square ‘ from the side-that is, the length is about the same as the height). His weight tends to be slightly lighter.

The other obvious difference is coloring.Whereas the English Springer Breed Standards admit several colorings (and these differ by Kennel Club from country to country), the Welsh Springer has only one coat coloring-Red and White.The Red is a rich gingery colour, but some people refer to this as gold and refer to the dog as a golden springer spaniel.

The eye coloring of a Welsh Springer should be dark or hazel.

Genetic Background

The Kennel Club breed standards says that it is of ancient origin and pure, though you have to say that the Welsh and English Springers bear a very close physical similarity. However, the colour of the Welsh Springer remains so pure and different to his English cousin that you have to accept that they can only be very distant cousins these days.The English Springer has two distinct lines-show dog and working dog, but for the Welsh Springer there is no distinction.

There are lines of English Springer which go back to Shropshire, a county adjacent to Wales where Welsh Springers originated. There may well be some linkage there.As a Welshman, visualise the ‘ Welshies ‘ as they are sometimes known, in the sheep and cattle country of north and mid Wales, some of which is mountainous and rugged.However, that vision is probably more romantic than realistic. They are after all, Springers, used for flushing game birds and springing into the air after the birds.

Welsh Springers can be found throughout the world, and are prized for their hunting abilities, including good noses.Indeed they first came to prominence as a result of their performance in field trials. They were first registered as a breed with the Kennel Club in 1902. Their recognition came about a hundred years after that of the English Springer.

Distribution

The Welshie is not as numerous as the English Springer. For example, there are 25 or so Accredited Welsh Springer Spaniel Breeders publicly listed by the Kennel Club in Britain (not all Accredited Breeders choose to be publicly listed).The equivalent number of Accredited Breeders of English Springers is of the order of a hundred.

In the USA, to check across four random states via the Welsh Springer Spaniel Breed Club, gave the following numbers: NC 14, TX 3, CA 7 and CT 16.

For Australia, information was more difficult to obtain.Breeders are found through the Territory Kennel Clubs which are organised under the Australian National Kennel Council. I located one in New South Wales.

Their Personality

Welsh Springers are delightful dogs, loyal and affectionate, and great with children-I brought up three daughters with Springers in the house and never had a moment’s concern.Some people say that they are a bit more lively than the English breed.

Like their English cousins, they are described as ‘ biddable ‘-that is, ready, willing and enthusiastic to follow commands.Bred for stamina and endurance, they are not sprinters, but will walk and trot ‘ all day ‘ in pursuit.

Nowadays in Britain, their tails cannot be docked unless by special licence.This rarely happens privately, but the police and armed forces tend to use their English Springer cousins as sniffer dogs and the sniffers get docked.To my eye to docked tail gives the dog the right balance, but obviously this is a subjective viewpoint.

From a practical perspective, it is not generally thought that the docked tail gives the dog much advantage when it comes to working through thick brush and undergrowth when compared to a dog with a full tail, as is the norm today in Britain.

On the other hand, most Welsh Springers are acquired to be family pets or companions, and the finer points of working game and hunting are not of major importance to the choice of this versatile breed.

Is type the right word? Maybe breed is better, but similar breeds usually fall under the heading of ‘ group ‘ at dog shows. Anyway, we’ll call them ‘ types ‘ for now. There are only two Springer Spaniel types-the Welsh Springer and the English Springer, though they form part of the much larger Spaniel family.

In the 2010 Crufts Show in London, there were eight Spaniels breeds in the Gundog Group:

* The Cocker Spaniel
* The Clumber Spaniel
* The Field Spaniel
* The English Springer Spaniel
* The Welsh Springer Spaniel
* The Sussex Spaniel
* The Irish Water Spaniel
* The American Cocker Spaniel

Some experts would also include the Koikerhondje (‘ cocker hound ‘) and the Dutch Partridge Dog (Drentsche Patrijshond) in the gundog group as spaniels; others would include the Brittany Spaniel.There are in excess of 25 different spaniels recognised around the world (for example the Tibetan Spaniel), though some of them fall outside the Gundog Group.

I know, there are basically two types of Springer-the English and the Welsh.They are very similar with the most obvious differences being in colour and body conformation. The Welsh Springer is a little lower at the withers and a couple of pounds lighter; it has only one coloring-red and white-whilst the English springer has liver and white and black and white with tan markings ‘ optional ‘ given a range of four basics under the English Breed Standards. The American breed standards are slightly different and have blue or liver roan in addition.

Occasionally, you will hear mention of the Field Springer. This term can be ambiguous as it could refer to the Field Spaniel or to the working line of the English Springer (which has two lines-the working line and the show dog line). These English Springer lines are distinguished by the working line being more compact and having a lighter bone structure.Proper use of ‘ Field ‘ is in reference to the working line of the English Springer.

The personalities of the English and Welsh Springers are much the same, including intelligence (they rank about thirteenth on the list of breeds by intelligence (according to some research), loyalty and high activity levels.’ Fun-loving ‘ is a phrase often used in connection with Springers, as is the word ‘ biddable ‘-that is, ready and willing to follow commands.This is important in a working dog situation when there are underway gunshots and retrievals.

These two Springer Spaniel types, though obviously distinctive breeds, must share a common ancestry as they are so close in many respects.For the English Springer, the ancestry includes some Cocker Spaniel and some Clumber.The English Springer’s ancestors are traceable through the now extinct English Water Spaniel, back to the first century AD.The breed only emerged in its own right in the early nineteenth century.The Welsh Springer by contrast, was first registered by the Kennel Club in England in the early twentieth century.

There is some discussion about where the roots of the English Springer lie-Shropshire or Norfolk.It is reasonable to speculate that the Shropshire line found its way across the border country into North Wales and thereafter the Welsh Springer developed its breed identity in the sheep country of North and Mid Wales.Speculation that may be, as the official Kennel Club view is that the Welsh Springer is an ancient breed of pure origin.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is an all purpose hunting dog bred for endurance on the field. The breed has a weatherproof coat that makes ideal for hunting, flushing and retrieving small upland game. They are affectionate dogs that will bond strongly with their family. Their coat requires minimum maintenance with a stiff bristle brush.

The Appearance

Height: 16-9 inches
Weight: 35-45 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years.

Welsh Springer Spaniels used for hunting tend to be smaller than the show variety and their ears are not as long.

They are a compact, medium-sized dog who’s length should be slightly greater than its height.The head is somewhat rounded, the eyes are either hazel or dark-colored and the muzzle is square.The long pendant ears are fringed with hair. The tail is docked and the same time again dew claws are removed.

The white and reddish brown coat is straight or slightly wavy, medium-length with feathering on the chest, undersides, legs, and tail.Any color pattern is acceptable and white areas may be flecked with red. This breed’s coat is weatherproof and gives protection thick brush and cold temperatures.

Using in the Field

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a compact dog ideal for tracking small game and flushing out upland birds. In addition, this all around hunting dog can be taught to retrieve on land and in the water.They have a great stamina for working in all kinds of weather and on difficult terrain. These dogs are excellent at tracking, hunting and retrieving but will not point.

The breed is intelligent but has an independent streak that can be interpreted as being “deaf to commands,” and the dog has a tendency to wander particularly while in an environment full of distractions.Constant training will be needed to maintain disciplines with these lively dogs.

At Home

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is independent and less outgoing than other Springer Spaniels.They tend to bond intensely with their human families and get along fine with other pets and children. They can be sensitive somewhat reserved with strangers so early socialization is needed to prevent these dogs from becoming timid.They can be protective and make order watchdogs.

They are a very lively dog and will need plenty of exercise and chances to run off leash.Without proper exercise they can become bored and overweight.Be mindful that these are dogs bred for hunting and they must be trained to recall and not to wander.They have a weather proof coat that needs little maintenance and will be comfortable in hot or cold weather.

The History

This breed has previously been known as the Welsh Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel and then Welsh.Some dog breed experts claim that the Welsh Springer Spaniel shares the same ancestry as the Brittany Spaniel.Until 1902, this breed and the English Springer Spaniel were considered to be the same breed.Since it was declared a separate breed, and has been popular as a hunting dog and dog show.

Temperament: The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a happy dog by nature and will love to be with their family, and gets on very well with children. Wanting to be in the hub of all activities but they do not have the high energy of the English Springer Spaniel. The Welsh Springer Spaniel needs good training, starting before the dog is 6 months old, to help stop the need to wander off. This dog needs good leadership, as if not this dog can decide not to listen to commands and become over protective. Socializing this dog well is vital to avoid a timid dog around strangers.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel breed is sensitive to tone of voice used and so needs gentle but firm, calm commands rather than hash disciplines, with good firm leadership. This is not the right dog for the meek owner as it will bring out the worst in this breed of dog. The Welsh Springer dog will need good early training if it is to be used as a hunting dog.This dog is usually good with other dog’s and pet’s but you will never remove the dogs ‘ hunting instincts so it is best to use this in a positive way such as scenting trials, this will please this dog.

Health issues: The Welsh Springer Spaniel is prone to hip dysplasia, entropion and epilepsy.As with any dog it is very important that you make sure they are up to date on all vaccinations, de-wormings and heart worm preventatives. It is also suggested by the majority of licensed veterinarians that you take your puppy or dog in for a check up at least twice each year.

Grooming: The Welsh Springer Spaniel needs daily grooming with a brush but this is all that is required.You can only bath this dog when it is really necessary.

Living conditions: The Welsh Springer Spaniel dog will be end in an apartment if given the daily mental and physical exercise.This dog will need a fair to a large garden.

Description: The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a lovely dog, to look at, that is a working dog of medium size. The head is slightly round but in good proportion to the body. The muzzle is about the same length as the skull but is square in shape. This dogs ‘ nose is an opened our dog and the colour is black or brown depending on the coat colour. The Welsh Springer Spaniel teeth are in level or scissor bite. The eyes are oval in shape and brown, ranging from dark to light. These are fairly wide set. Long ears, which are set close to the head and hang from eye level, have fringed hair reach down to the cheeks of the dog. The Welsh Springer Spaniel tail is docked, in countries that permit docking, setting the tail to the top line and is level; this is carried parallel to the back. The height in dogs is 17-19 inches and in the bitches it is 16-18 inches. The weight is for dogs 40-45 pounds and in the bitches it is 35-45 pounds. The coat is soft, flat and straight or wavy. This is medium in length with feathering on the ears and tail, this should be light. Colouring is red and white with all patterning accepted.

History: This dog, the Welsh Springer Spaniel, is a descendant of the English Springer Spaniel. The breed dates back to 1300 AD and this was called the “Cocker” this is a large family including Clumber, Sussex, the Irish Water Spaniels, to name a few. The needs of the hunt started to sort out the type, and needs of use for this breed. The most obvious being if the dog was needed for water or land. The Welsh Springer Spaniel was classed as a separate breed in the 1800s. The role of this dog was to find and spring the game. The Welsh Springer Spaniel is very resilient and can work in all weathers. This breed has good stamina and can work for hours at a time. The Welsh Springer Spaniel dog can wander, and I know training is very important. Talents this dog is known for are;retrieving, gun dog, tracking, watchdog and hunting.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a small spaniel with instinctive hunting abilities. The Welsh is a gun dog which is referred to in Wales as a “starter”. This is the type of hunting dog which will startle the birds, causing them to fly up for the hunter. Like most of the spaniel dog breeds, he is that is agile and quick to quarter, with a good nose and desire to work for the hunter as a partner in flushing up the birds. The Welsh Spaniel needs to be trained to the gun early to prevent “gun shy” behavior. He is a hunting breed of great perseverance. Of course he possesses a good “nose” and should also be of a fearless nature, enthusiastic and willing to hunt for hours. His numbers are not populous and this has helped to protect his strong hunting instincts. The “show breeders” of the Welsh Springer Spaniel have not placed an over emphasis on coat, or head type, which can sometimes lead to a lessening of the instinctive qualities of the dog. Nor has this dog been over bred because of extreme popularity. Thus this is a spaniel which has retained its natural abilities and can be relied on to perform the task for which he was bred.

The Welsh Springer is somewhat lighter boned and more refined in appearance than his cousin the English Springer Spaniel. The coat is a rich red and white, no other color being accepted. The correct coat will be somewhat weather resistant and naturally clean. The breed is easy to keep with few genetic conditions, although hip dysplasia may be present and there is a small incidence of dogs of this breed being susceptible to epilepsy. The “rage syndrome” which has been reported in the English Springer Spaniel does not appear to be present in the Welsh Springer. He is a compact dog that should have the appearance of symmetry and balance. Tail is docked as a protection against the brush and thickets. Ears are lop and are smaller than those of the English Springer. The legs are strong and the rear quarters should have a good angle of the stifle for ground covering movement which is necessary for the function of the breed.The expression should be kindly and sweet.

The Welsh Springer makes a fine family pet. He is curious and lively, eager and playful. This is not a dog that should be left alone for hours, he needs human companionship and delights to long walks and playtimes with his family. He is easy to train, generally accepting of strangers and not overly noisy or threatening to other dogs in the household. This is a dog which endears himself to his owners after he is grown, but can be boisterous as a puppy and needs to be kept confined to a pen when he cannot be supervised.He is easy to train however and is usually very anxious to please and eager to learn.Once trained he is steadfast and steady both in the field and in the home.